A combine moves through a field on Oct. 2, 2023, in Douglas County. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)
During testimony Thursday on a bill to ban ownership of agricultural land by foreigners from six countries, a state official told lawmakers that Chinese spies visited South Dakota two years ago.
Hunter Roberts is the head of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He testified to the state House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee at the Capitol in Pierre.
Roberts said the department received an inquiry in 2022 from a Chinese delegation requesting to meet with him and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and requesting tours and infrastructure meetings with grain elevator operators, processing facilities and ag producers.
Roberts said the department declined, but the Chinese delegation came anyway, and the federal Department of Homeland Security called state officials before the delegation’s arrival to ask about it. Roberts said the federal officials were “very concerned” about the Chinese delegation and “very pleased” that state officials were not meeting with them.